GAZA, Palestine: At least three people were killed in an overnight Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip, according to local civil defence authorities, as violence continues despite a ceasefire agreement reached last year.
Mahmoud Bassal, spokesman for Gaza’s civil defence agency, said the attack took place shortly after midnight near Al-Zaqzouq junction in the Al-Amal neighbourhood, northwest of Khan Younis.
“Three people were killed as a result of an Israeli strike at midnight in the vicinity of the Al-Zaqzouq junction in Al-Amal neighborhood, northwest of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip,” he told the media.
Journalists reported Israeli warplanes flying over the area following the strike, underlining the fragile nature of the truce that came into effect on October 10 after more than two years of invasion.
Despite the ceasefire, Gaza has continued to witness near-daily incidents of violence. However, the continued loss of civilian lives has drawn growing concern from humanitarian groups and international observers.
Disproportionate use of force
According to Gaza’s health ministry, more than 770 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire began. The figures, which are considered credible by the United Nations, highlight the ongoing human cost of the conflict, particularly among civilians.
Human rights organisations have repeatedly raised alarms over the disproportionate use of force and the targeting of civilian areas, contributing to widespread destruction and displacement across Gaza.
Restrictions on media access in Gaza have made independent verification of casualty figures difficult, further complicating efforts to fully assess the scale of the humanitarian crisis.
